Where can I find out more about documerica?
This overview by C. Jerry Simmons, published in a 2009 issue of Prologue, is a good place to start. This online exhibit, produced in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, is another useful introduction to DOCUMERICA's formation, development, and core aims.
The National Archives website provides access to more than 15,000 digitized photographs and has done some cataloging of the DOCUMERICA archive by location, topic, and photographer. Many of these unrestored photographs are also available via the National Archives' Flickr page.
The National Archives website provides access to more than 15,000 digitized photographs and has done some cataloging of the DOCUMERICA archive by location, topic, and photographer. Many of these unrestored photographs are also available via the National Archives' Flickr page.
who runs this site?
E. James West is a lecturer in modern US History at the University of York. My research focuses on modern American history, particularly histories of race, rights, and media. A lot of this work centers on Chicago, so my route into DOCUMERICA comes through the photography of John H. White.
WHY DID YOU SET THIS SITE UP?
The most obvious reason is that I think DOCUMERICA provides a vibrant and multifaceted portrait of Black life in the 1970s which is worthy of wider attention. This digital history project was also created to mark fifty years since DOCUMERICA's introduction to the American public in November 1971. The anniversary of DOCUMERICA's formation, as well as the anniversary of some of its most significanct assignments over the next few years, provides an opportune moment to reflect on the project's visual interventions and reconsider its value with regards to current debates around the climate crisis and the enduring and interconnected challenges of environmental, racial, and economic inequality in the twenty-first century.
how you do restore the images?
All of the upscaling, color adjustments, blemish removal, etc. on the DOCUMERICA photographs which appear on this site are done using Affinity Photo.
CAN I GET HIGHER-QUALITY VERSIONS OF THE IMAGes?
I'm hoping to make higher quality versions of the restored images available soon. There are other sites out there - including this one - which are also restoring DOCUMERICA images, although they don't have the specific focus on African American representation that this project does.
how can i help?
The main aim of this project is to raise awareness of DOCUMERICA and its core aims, so sharing on social media is always a good start!
This is a passion project which I'm undertaking in my spare time. I don't receive any funding for this project and I'm not affiliated in any way with the National Archives and Records Administration. If you are interested in helping to restore some photographs, I'd love to hear from you. If you would like to donate a few dollars to help with restoration costs and the site maintenance costs you can do so via my PayPal account.
This is a passion project which I'm undertaking in my spare time. I don't receive any funding for this project and I'm not affiliated in any way with the National Archives and Records Administration. If you are interested in helping to restore some photographs, I'd love to hear from you. If you would like to donate a few dollars to help with restoration costs and the site maintenance costs you can do so via my PayPal account.
